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(No Model.) 8

G. DAMON & E. S. PEETS.

PRODUCING MATRICES FOR STBRBOTYPE S.

No. 392,189. I Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

QNXMMW Emu X 88, a LMQ 49m 19 M UNITE STATES PATENT Erica.

GEoRGE nAMoN, oE'oRANEoRn, NEW JERSEY, AND ELIAS S. PEETS, on NEW YORK, N. Y., ASsIGNoRs, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE A. N. KELLOGG NEWSPAPER COMPANY, or oHIoAGo, ILLINOIS.

PRODUCING MATRICES FOR STEREOTYPES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,189, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed June 2, 1887. Serial No. 240,087. (No model.)

.To all 2071,0122, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE DAMON, of Granford, Union county, New Jersey, and ELIAS S. PEE'rs, of the city, county, and State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Matrix for Making Stereotype-Plates and the Process of Manufacturing the Same, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawing accompanyo ing and forming a part of the same.

The object of this invention is to produce a cheap matrix or mold for producing stereotype or printing plates which shall be more durable and elficient than those now in use. The

I 5 main object is to produce at small cost a matrix with a metal face which shall be capable of being used a great number of times for making printing-plates, and which shall remain unimpaired and capable of producing clear and distinct characters during-a long period of use. To this end we have produced a metalfaced matrix with a paper or papier-mach backing, the method or process by which we producethe same being in detail as follows:

By means of the type or electrotype-plate of the matter which it is desired to reproduce we first take an impression in papier-mach, thus forming a matrix or mold. Stereotype-metal is then poured into the matrix and an ordi- 0 nary stereotype-plate formed. This plate is then coated with melted wax, which is carefully wiped off from the face of the type, and before the wax has entirely hardened powdered plumbago is dusted over the whole sur- 3 5 face. A small quantity of a volatile solvent such as benzine or alcoholis then applied to the plate, after which. the plate is again wiped carefully and a further coating of plumbago applied to its surface. When thus prepared,

the plate is immersed in a copper solution and a film of copper deposited upon its face. In order to prevent the back of the plate from receiving any deposit, it is protected in the usual way by a film of Wax or like material. The

plate is then removed from the bath to a beaty ing-t-able and a sheet of dampened stereotypel paper laid over it, which is carefully beaten into the irregular copper surface. There is next a thin coating of pipe-clay spread over the entire surface, which by any convenient o tool is removed from the depressed surfaces of any considerable extent, which occur where paragraphs or blanks are found in the type, and into these depressions are then placed small strips of compressed stereotype-paper 5 5 properly cut to fit into the same for the purpose of making a more uniform surface, and over the whole are then laid in succession two or more additional sheets of moist stereotypepaper, which are independently beaten into 6ov the underlying layer and the surface of the plate. Upon this surface any desired number of dry sheets of paper sufficient in number to form a stiff backing for the plate are laid and beaten in. In practice we have found a dozen to fifteen sheets answer this purpose. The plateis then pressed or rolled in order to smooth the surface, and it is then allowed to thoroughly dry. \Vhen brought to this condition, the copper coating, with its backing of paper, may be stripped from the plate, and is in condition for use as a matrix, from which any number of stereotypeplates may be produced and from any of the materials commonly used for this purposesuch as type-metalor a plastic, such as xylonite, celluloid, or other like substances.

It will thus be seen-that the above process involves the following main parts or steps: first, the production of a stereotype plate, which, it will be understood, may be done by any other process than that described; second,

the electro-deposition upon such plate of afilm of copper under conditions which permit the ultimate removal of the copper from the surface of the plate without injury to the facing; and, lastly, the re-enforcement of this film by a backing of paper or papier-mach, which intimately adheres to the copper plate,and which strengthens the copper plate and permits it to 0 be readily stripped from the Stereotype, and which forms without further treatment the matrix.

The accompanying drawing is appended in further illustration of the invention..

LetA represent a stereotype or electrotype plate. This, as we have before stated, may be produced in any well-known way. When finished, its surface is coated with wax, which is wiped off from the surface of the type. The purpose of this is to afford an even surface for the electro-deposition of the copper or other metal and to fill up the irregularities of surface in the interstices between the lines of type. \Vhen the plumbago has been applied, the henzine is added, it having been found that this produces a better distribution of the plnmbago surface. To thoroughly coat the type, plunr bago is dusted a second time over the plate after the application of the bcnzine or solvent, and then the copper is deposited. The copper film (designated by B) is shown detached from the stereotype, and the backing with which it is combined is lettered O. This latter is most advantageously applied by the process we have set forth above; but it is evident that this method may be varied to some extent without departure from the invention. The main objcct is to produce a solid and perfect backing for the copper, in order that the matrix of which it forms the face may be capable of withstanding a very high pressure without becoming impaired by frequent use. This is particularly desirable in case xyloniteor a like substance is the material used for making the stereotypes from the matrix. \Ve find that this object is more perfectly secured by the use of the pipe-clay by filling the larger deprcssions with small pieces of compressed stereotype-paper, and by proceeding in other respects as above indicated.

\Vhat we claim is- 1.. A matrix for the production of stereotype-plates, composed of a metal facing with l a backing of paper or papier-machc, as set forth.

2. The method or process of constructing a matrix for the production of stereotype-plates, which consists in depositing a film of metal 1 upon a stereotype-plate, uniting therewith a 1 backing of paper or papier-mache, and stripping or removing the film and its backing from the plate, as set forth.

3. The method or process of constructing a matrix for the production of stereotypeplates, which consists in coating a stereotype with wax, dusting plumbago thereon, then treating the surface with bcnzine or its equivalent, then depositing on said surface a film of copper, uniting with the film a backing of paper, and stripping or removing the film and its backing from the plate.

4. The method or process of constructing a matrix for the production of stereotype-plates, which consists in coating a stereotype with wax, dusting plumbago thereon, then treating the surface with a volatile solvent, then applying a second coating of plumbago, depositing thereon a film of copper, uniting with the film a backing of paper, and stripping or removing the film and its backing from the plate, as described.

5. The method or process of constructing a matrix for the production ofstcrcotype-plates, which consists in depositing on a suitably-prepared stereotype a film of copper, uniting with the said film a backing of paper or papier-mach and pi pe-clay, and stripping or removing the film and its backing from the plate, as described.

6. The method or process of constructing a matrix for the production of stercotypeplates, which consists in depositing on the properlyprepared surface of a stcrcoty pc a film of metal, uniting with such film a re-en forcing material to form a backing, and stripping or removing ,the film and its backing from the plate, as set forth.

Signed this 21th day of November, 1886.

GEORGE DAMON. [a s] E. S. ll' lE'lS. [11. s.f|

\\'itncsses:

A. 1:. CUMMINS, \V. A. BUNKER. 

